Level and sqtjabe



J. W. WESTON.

LEVEL AND SQUARE.4

APPLICATION fIIEn IAN. I0. Isle.

Q1 ,3l 9,545.. Patented Oct 21, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

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'1. w. WESTON.

LEVEL ANU SQUARE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. l0. 1919.

1,319,545 .Patented 0ct..21,-1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

@wom/tor el. W Wfmw @lf/town m JOHN W. WESTON, or MOLUS, KENTUCKY;

LEVEL AND' SQUARE.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 21, 19,19.

Application filed January 10, 1919. Serial No. 270,490.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, JOHN W. WESTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Molus, in the county oi' Harlan and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Levels and Squares; and I do hereby declare the follow- .ng to bev a full, clear, and eXact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and usethe same.

This invention relates to levels and squares, and more particularly to an instrument oi' the character stated which is especially-adapted for use in connection with masonry work.

VOne of the main objects of the invention is to provide an instrument by means of which a mason can readily ascertain if his work is square and level, the instrument being also adapted to be used for plumbing the work.

A further object is to provide a level and vsquare in conjunction with a straight edge especially adapted to be used therewith, this straight edge being provided with a frame by means of which a trowel and jointer may be supported so as to be readily accessible for truing up the work.

Another object is t0 provide Simple and eiiicient means for securingV the levels vials in operative position in the arms of the instrument.

Another Object is to provide simple and efficient means for detachably securing the arms of the instrument together at right angles to each other, so as to permit these arms to be readily disassembled, when desired, each arm constituting, when separated from the other arm, a level.

Further objects will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings Figure l is a front view of a level and square constructed in accordance with my invention, with the straight edge attachment applied,

Fig. 2 is an endview of the same,

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, i

AFig.. 4 is a section taken Substantially on line 4 4 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 5,

Fig. 7 is a detail the vial holders.

Fig. 8 is a section taken substantially on line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially on line 10 l0 of Fig. 8. v

In carrying my invention into eli'ect I provide two arms l and 2, which are, preferably, though not necessarily, brass bound and graduated at their inner edges as illustrated. The inner end portion of arm l is cut away or reduced in thickness to provide perspective of one of a tongue 3 which tits snugly between coperating flanges 4 formed at the inner end of arm 2 by cutting this arm away to receive the tongue, the tongue and flanges coperating in the well known manner to provide Va tenon joint, by means of which the two arms muy be connected at right angles to each other. Arm 2 is provided with a recess 5 in its outer edge portion which receives an eye G formed at the lower end of one arm 7 of a securing member 8.

Arm 7 is of such length as to have its upper end flush with the upper end of arm 2 of the square as illustrated. An arm 9 is hingedly Secured as at 10, to the upper end of arm 7 and extends at right angles there-V to longitudinally of arm 1 of the square so as to fit snugly against the Outer edge thereof. This arm 9 of member 8 has its iree end portion turned down and shaped to provide a catch element 11 adapted to engage a shoulder 12 formed on the inner face of a socket member 13 set into the upper edge of arm 1. The member 7 thus serves to secure the two arms or the square and level together and to maintain them .at right angles to each other. This securing member is supplemented by a releasable catch composed of a resilient hook member 14C which is pivotally secured at one end as at 15 to one Side of arm 1, this hook member being provided with a hook 16 at its other ond which engages abouta securing pin 17 carried by arm 2. The hook 14; serves to effectually prevent spreading apart of the arms, while the hinged securing member eilectually prevents movement ofthe arms toward each other, the hook and securing.

memberthus coperating to efectually prevent any looseness or play between the arms of the instrument while insuring that these arms are held securely and accurately in proper relation. By disengaging hook 14 fromxpin 17, and releasingelementQ of the securing member 7 from socket member 13, the arms 1 and 2 may be readily separated so as to permit the instrument to be packed into a tool kit in such a manner as to occupy a minimum amount of space, each of these arms also constituting, when separated, a separate instrument which vmay be used as a level. Arm 1 is provided, at itsncent'ral portion with an opening 18 extending through the arm, this opening receiving the supporting plates of vial holders indicated generally by 19. These vial holders serve to removably support two leveling vials 20 of suitable construction, these vials being mounted in parallel spaced relation and extending longitudinally of the arm 1. Adjacent each end this arm is provided with an opening 21 in which is supported a transversely extending leveling vial 22 by means of holders 23, which are of substantially the same construction as the holders 19. As will be noted more clearly from Figs. 3 and 7 of the drawings, each of the vial holders comprises a supporting plate 24 of substantial rectangular outline which is or suchl shape as to fit snugly within the opening 20 against the end wall thereof,l this plate being provided at its upper and lower edges with outwardly projecting kears 25 t'o which are hinged the securing arms 26, the outer ends of which are shaped to provide resilient catch elements 27 adapted to engage about securing shoulders or heads 28 formed on the inner races of socket members 29 set into the opposite faces of arm 1. The securing arms 26 cooperate with the socket members to efficiently secure the holders to the arms, the supporting plates 21 or these holders being positioned at opposite ends4 of the openings 20. A retaining plate 30 is secured to plate 24 in advance thereof and a pad 31, of felt, leather, or other suitable material is mounted between the two plates. The plate 30 is provided with spaced openings 32 which are adapted to receive snugly the end portions of theV level vials 20, the ends of these vials fitting tightly against the pads 31 so as to be supported and held thereby. These pads act to tightly grip the ends of the vials so as to secure the same in proper position, while providing shock absorbingmeans which serve to prevent breakage of the vials from jars incident to use of the instrument.

The construction of the vial holders 23y is similar to that of holders 19 with the excep: tion that the arms 26JL are bentinto substantial rectangular or L-shape,'so .as to it about the edge portion of arm 1, the catch'element 27 engaging over head 28?* formed at the opposite sides of a Socket member29a which is set into the edge of'rarm 1. By means of these holders,the vials; 20 andV 22-.may be readily secured on the arm 1 in proper operative position for use and may be quickly and easily removed, iwhen not in use,- -so as H.to reduce the danger of breakage thereof'. VArm 2 is provided with a similar set of vials 20'?l which are'mounted in the Vsame manner as the vials of arm 1 and disposed in the same relation. The two arms, each provided with the two sets of vials in the manner described, when secured together at right angles to each other as illustrated, constitute frame, and the other arm in vengagement with the side member or board of the frame, the user can ascertain at a glance if his frame is set so as to be lcv/el and plumb. In thesame manner, the instrument can be vused for determining if a piece of masonry is level and plumb or if a wall is at right angles to a given wall. In this manner this instrument saves considerable time and work to masons, carpenters and persons engaged in similar trades. This instrument is especially adapted for use inconnection with Y a straight edge designated generally by 33. This straight edge includes a straight edge strip 31 from which is suspended the frame 35 formed from sheet metal by stamping and bending, this irame being provided adjacent each end withY a supporting arm 36 which is bent about vand secured to rthe straight edge'strip 34.V VThe'upper end or arm 36 is connected by a chain 37 to a: ring 38 slidable in a slot 39 extending longitudinally or'l a supporting member 40 projecting outwardly from arml at right angles there-V to; The member 10 is provided on itsinner end with a T-head 4:1 which its snugly into a channel member Ll2 set into .arm 1 and fxedly secured therein. The upper endl of member @l2 is open so as to permit tree insenico which the supporting members 40 can be mounted on this arm when arm 2l is uppermost; This permits the straight edge to be supported :from either arm of the` instrument so as to be readily accessible Vfor truiiig up the work. L i Y f L "The straight edge frame 35 is turned; inwardly at its lower edge to provideV anfin# tegral right angularly disposed flange 35a and the material of this flange at the llbvlei'.

edge thereof is slit and offset to provide a depending supporting strip 35b extending longitudinally of the frame 35. This strip slidably receives the end links of chains 43 and 44 providedl at their lower ends with hooks 43 and 44a, respectively. Hook 43a is adapted to engage through an eye 45 secured in the upper end of the handle of a pointer trowel 46, hook 44, engaging through a ring 47 secured to the upper end of a jointer 48. The trowel and the jointer are thus suspended from the straight edge frame so as to be readily accessible for jointing and truing up the work, thus eifecting a material saving in time, as will be appreciated.

Arm l 0f the instrument is provided in its outer end with an eye 49 secured therein, a similar eye 50 being provided in the outer end of arm 2. These eyes are adapted to receive a line for plumbing or for truing up the work in the well known manner.

It will be evident that there may be slight changes made in the construction and arrangement of the details of my invention without departing from the field and scope of the same, and I intend to include all such variations, as fall within the scope of the appended claims, in this application in which a preferred form only of my invention is disclosed.

What I claim is z- 1. In an instrument of the character described, a level arm provided with an opening, vial holding members detachably secured to said arm and extending through said opening at opposite sides thereof, and a level vial detachably mounted in said sup porting members.

2. In vial supporting means for levels and similar instruments, the combination with a level arm provided with an opening, of socket members carried by said arm, supporting plates, a holding plate carried by each of said supporting plates provided with an opening for receiving the end portion of a level vial, and securing arms hingedly secured to the opposite edges of said sup Copies of this patent may be obtained for porting plates and engaging into said socket members so as to detachably secure the supporting plates within said openings.

3. A vial holder adapted for use in connection with levels and similar instruments, comprising a level arm provided with an opening therethrough, a base plate, securing arms hingedly secured thereto at the opposite edges of said plate and adapted to engage about the opposite faces of said level arm when the base plate is mounted within the opening provided through said arm, each of said securing arms provided at its free end with a catch element adaptn ed to coperate with a catch element pro vided on the level arm for detachably securing the holder in position, and means carried by the plate for receiving the end portion of a level vial so as to detachably hold the vial in operative position.

4. In an instrument of the character described, two arms detachably connected together at their adjacent ends by a tenon joint, said arms disposed substantially at right angles to eac-h other, a catch element carried by one of said arms at the outer edge thereof, a securing member pivotally secured at one end to the other arm, said' member comprising two elements hingedly secured together and of such length as to lit snugly about the outer edge portions of the adjacent ends of the arms at right angles to each other, the outer one of said elements being provided at its free end with a catch element adapted to coperate Ilwith the catch element carried by the other arm so as to detachably secure said securing member in operative position, the securing member acting to prevent movement of the arms of the instrument toward each other, and detachable means for preventing movement of said arms away from each other.

In testimony whereof I ailiX my signature in presence of two witnesses.

VJOHN W. VESTON. Witnesses:

ARTHUR W. INAINn'rT, WILLIAM T. EHALL.

five cents each, by addressing the Gommissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

